3-Year-Old Girl Dies After Contracting E. Coli at Petting Zoo: ‘We’ve Been Living a Nightmare’

NEED TO KNOW

• A 3-year-old girl from Australia died after developing a rare condition caused by an E. coli infection

• Officials believe she contracted the bacteria at a petting zoo where she interacted with animals

• Health experts urge handwashing after animal contact as cases of this condition remain extremely rare

A toddler has died after contracting a rare infection while visiting a petting zoo.

After six weeks in the hospital, a 3-year-old girl from Melbourne, Australia — whose family requested she remain unnamed — died on Monday, Aug. 31 after suffering permanent brain damage and kidney failure.

"We've been living a nightmare … we've lost our darling girl," her parents said on a GoFundMe page. "She was courageous and a fighter, she fought so hard. We all fought SO hard."

The young girl died after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) , a life-threatening condition caused by a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection. Her parents said she likely contracted the bacteria from a farm "where she held, rode and petted animals."

According to the Centers for Disease Control , STEC is found in the gut and feces of animals. People can be infected if the bacteria enters their mouth through consuming contaminated food and drinks, swimming in or drinking contaminated water, contact with farm or petting zoo animals or close contact with an infected person.

During a press conference Thursday, Sept. 3, Victoria's Deputy Chief Health Officer Clare Looker said cases of HUS are "very, very rare" and only two have been confirmed in the state this year.

She noted that although a common cause has not been identified, local petting zoos are part of the health department's investigation.

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"We know this bacteria exists in many farm animals, so I don't think that shutting a single farm that is taking all the right public health protective measures would stop the risk for children or the community," she told reporters, per ABC . "At this stage, there's no consideration for that."

Looker urged people to take precautions and wash their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with animals.

"We're comfortable that we have fully risk-assessed those settings and taken appropriate control measures," she said.

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